Politics and the Catholic Church: The Rise of Communism, the Modernization of the Church, and American Involvement in Early Cold War Italy

The Catholic Church stands as a testament to the strength of Christianity and diplomacy in an age of modernity. The Vatican, however, has struggled in recent history to live up to its moral code and has taken a more political leaning. Between 1943 and 1965, this adaptation or struggle against modern adaptation is clearly seen. It is necessary to understand the development of post-war Europe at a time when its political, economic, and spiritual leanings could have swayed toward communism, especially as it was a prominent political group in Italy at the time. How then, did Italy evade the progressive ideologies and how did America win over their affections? How would the Catholic Church move forward in a new modern era that was less focused on war and more focused on rebuilding?